Groups Push for Conservation Cash

As the state's efforts to sell surplus property to generate cash for conservation projects is falling short of its goal, environmental groups say they are closing in on a more permanent solution.

By LLOYD DUNKELBERGERTHE LEDGER

As the state's efforts to sell surplus property to generate cash for conservation projects is falling short of its goal, environmental groups say they are closing in on a more permanent solution.Eric Draper of Audubon of Florida said the groups are nearing their goal of collecting some 910,000 voter signatures by the end of this month as part of a process to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2014 ballot to dedicate a portion of state funding toward conservation efforts.Draper said the Florida's Water and Land Legacy coalition should have something in the neighborhood of 850,000 signatures when the latest numbers are tallied early this week."We're confident we're going to make our goal," he said.The group has set a goal of nearly 1 million signatures in order to end up with 683,149 validated signatures by February — which is the required number and deadline for placing a citizens' initiative on the ballot. Collecting the extra signatures gives the group "a buffer," Draper said, since typically not all signatures can be verified. Internet: www.bit.ly/193mh4T.As of Friday, the state Division of Elections reported the constitutional amendment campaign had 304,942 signatures validated by the local supervisors of elections.If adopted by 60 percent of the voters next November, the amendment would take effect in January 2015 and dedicate a third of the state's existing tax on real estate transactions to conservation efforts for the next 20 years, including the purchase of environmentally critical land, Everglades restoration, water projects and other conservation programs. The amendment could generate some $10 billion over that time, the conservation coalition says.The environmental groups are pushing the amendment because the state's financial commitment to conservation efforts has decreased dramatically in recent years. For a time, the state was setting side roughly $300 million a year for land purchases, Everglades restoration and other projects. But the funding was largely cut off during the Great Recession years.This year, lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott backed $20 million for conservation projects in the annual state budget, while also authorizing a plan to sell "surplus" property to generate another $50 million. But the Department of Environmental Protection said last week that the surplus lands list, which is still being refined, has been dropped from 169 potential parcels to 77 and is not likely generate anything close to $50 million.Draper said the environmental groups will continue to push for more state funding in the 2014 session, but he is not optimistic that lawmakers "will get real generous to the environment" in the spring.If funding remains low, Draper said that will give more momentum for the conservation amendment on the 2014 ballot."We're hoping we won't have any opposition," Draper said. "I don't know why anybody would oppose it. But we will have a campaign to educate people and to get people out to vote."

WINNER OF THE WEEKJobs. Florida's jobless rate dropped to its lowest level in five years, reaching 6.7 percent in October. It is well below the national rate of 7.3 percent. Gov. Rick Scott noted it was the eighth month that Florida was below the national average and that the state has added 67,000 private sector jobs over the last two months.

LOSER OF THE WEEKU.S. Rep. Trey Radel. It was revealed that the first-term Republican congressman from Fort Myers was arrested for the possession of 3.5 grams of cocaine in Washington on Oct. 29. Radel admitted to the crime, which would have been a felony in Florida but was a misdemeanor in Washington. Despite calls for his resignation, Radel announced he would remain in office but seek treatment for his drug and alcohol use.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK"The survivor will be the candidate voters dislike least on Election Day," Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown said about a new poll showing a tightening race between Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist.